Stripe attachment for knitting machines



Jan. 1, 1935. HOWlE I STRIPE ATTACHMENT FOR KNITTING MACHINES 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan.1, 1935. K. HOWlE STRIPE ATTACHMENT FOR KNITTING MACHINES Original Filed April 29, 1932 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jfennei'h Ji Jan. 1, 1935. K. HOWIE STRI PE ATTACHMENT FOR KNITTING MACHINES 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed April 29, 1932 Kennezh Jlr ae,

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50 marked and and the operative or inoperative position by cams and Patented Jan. 1, 1935. 1 9 57 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Kenneth Howie, Norristown, Pa., assignor .to

Wildman Mfg. Co., Norristown, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application April 29, 1932, Serial No. 608,314 Renewed March '1, 1934 8 Claims. (Cl. 66-127) This invention is for the purpose, primarily, of stretches of these endless carriers are more wideproducing striped effects in full fashioned stock- 1y separated. They carry dogs 34 see Figs. 14 ings. The mechanism is designed more particuand 15 to be engaged by a driver like that dislarly as an attachment to the type of full fashclosed in said application indicated generally ioned machine disclosed in an application for Letat 31, Fig. 2 and in some detail in Figs. 14 and 15. 5 ters Patent of the United States, filed by Ken- This driver reciprocates lengthwise of and below neth Howie and Charles C. Krieble, Ser. No. the rear widely separated stretches of the yarn 590,942, dated Feb. 4, 1932, Full fashioned knitguide carrier bands. This driver carries means ting machine. for selectively engaging the dogs 34 and moving In the drawings the carriers according to a prescribed plan of 1 Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a machine selection to feed the proper one of the several of the type shown in the above mentioned appliyarns to the needles according to the particular cation with the striping attachment incorporated portion of the stocking being knit, it being undertherein. stood for instance that the welt is knitted with Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of a part of yarn passing through guide 1; the body ofthe 15 the full fashioned machine with the striping leg is knit by yarn passing through eyes 1, 5 and '7;

mechanism in place thereon. the ravel course by yarn 1; the heel tabs by yarns Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view of the imof guides 3 and 4. Yarn guides 2 and 6 are extra provement. I in the layout of the present plan, but may be F 4 is an nlarged view of part of Fig. 3. used to accord withsome other plan that it may 20 Fig. 5 is a front view of a part of mechanism. be desired to employ. The means on the re- Fig. 6 is a detail side view of part of the pattern ciprocating driver for picking up the various mechanism. carrier bands by engaging the dogs 34 thereof F 7 i a P V w of part of Fig. 5, par ly consist of pawls 31a. For adjusting these pawls in section. to select the desired yarn carrier hands, a P

Fig. 8 is a detail plan view. rality of slides designated generally as a group Fig. 9 is a detail rear view of part of the at c, 2, are arranged at each end of the mechanism machine and at the'rear part thereof. These F 10 is a detail VieW- slides are provided with projections against which 11 is a P i detail controller cam slides 317, on the driver 31 abut Fig. 12 is a viewof the series of cams and mm slidingly operated thereby to select and posiis a t left hand d of the y changer tion the pawls 31a as in the application above mentioned by acting upon the cam shaped ends Fig. 13 is a view of the series of cams and discs 1 of the stems of id pawls, The pawls are belonging to the right hand end of the Y heldinraised position so as to engage the inclined changer shaft shoulders 34d on the dogs 34 by sprin det n Fig. 14 is a detail view partly in section looking when, however, t d g 34 i arrested by its from the rear of the machine showing the driver projection 35 coming against, e f the stops, as for selectively operating the yarn carrier bands. fo instance Rs in Fig, 14, t th in lined i 15 a detail i of shoulder 311) on the pawl 3111 working against the Fig. 16 IS a detail view of means for operating inclines 34d and 346 on the dog will b pushed the yam change cam shaft down so as to pass the dog. By this action the In the machine of the application above menlower cam shaped end 319 of the stem f the tioned a series of yarn directing eyes or guides pawl 31a will enter the V shaped recess 31h f are mounted on endless carriers designated as a controller slide and Said slide will then 45 group 26 and consisting each of a thin steel band raise the pawl again when Said slide is next oDer- Set up on edge and having reciprocating move ated by a projection on one of the selector slides ment along the needle row indicated at 'n. as in f the group In said application it is l Fig. 2. These endless carriers individually are disclosed t at t slides are l t d d et in y guide y belonging thereto are marked springs, said cams are mounted on a yarn changer 1 t0 7. l shaft b. The group of cams, one at each end of The rri r along h rw e h h regf said shaft 11 are indicated generally at 40 and 40a. are arranged close together so that each may This yarn changer shaft, like in said application, reciprocate close to the needle row. The rear is operated step by step by a pawl b shown in a ratchet D The engagement of the pawl with the ratchet iscontrolled by shield b which in turn is controlled by the main pattern mechanism shown generally at A. This control is exerted by a flexible rod housed in a tube b" from lever b operated by projection b on the main pattern drum A, Fig. 1. When this shield is withdrawn from normalposition through connections operated by said main pattern mechanism, the pawl, which is operated from a suitable cam bx Fig. 16 on the main cam shaft a and lever b then can engage the ratchet and turn the yarn changer shaft, all as set forth in said application.

Certain of the selector slides C in the group at the left side of the machine, Fig. 2, control the introduction of the colored yarns. In the present layout which may be regarded only as an example, the slides C C and C Fig. 8, are the ones for controlling the colors. Slide C controls carrier'band #1 and this carrier has mounted thereon the yarn guide eye 1 for the yarn which knits the ravel course of the stocking. Said slide C in order to bring in this ravel yarn is set in position by one of the cams on the yarn changer shaft b, marked Ca see Figs. 2, 4, 8, 10 and 12. This slide C Fig. 4, is operated leftward by the cam and it is returned towards the right by one of the springs 42. This yarn is, say, blue in color and besides being used for knitting that part of the stocking known as the ravel courses it is also used in the present improvement for changing the color at intervals in the body of the stocking for producing the horizontal striping effect. For bringing it into action, for changing the color for striping, this selector slide C is operated by the striping attachment- Which includes a supplemental pattern mechanism indicated generally at A This consists of, say, three pattern chains, C, C and C which respectively operate the particular one of the group of levers 8 associated therewith. This supplemental pattern mechanism is located. near the front of the machine as shown in Fig. 1 at the left hand side thereof. The levers are pivotally mounted on a bracket 9, attached to the main frame of the machine, which bracket also furnishes a support for the drum 10 which supports and operates the pattern chains. The drum has a ratchet wheel 11 connected therewith which is operated by a pawl 12. The pawl is held in engagement with the ratchet by a spring 13, Figs. 1, 3 and 5. The pawl is pivotally carried by an arm 14 loosely mounted on a catch bar rock shaft 15. This arm is operated in one direction by a spring 16 to retract the pawl and it is operated in the other direction by the projec 'tions 70a: onthe rotary cam P driven from a gear wheel 38g as in the application above referred to, this rotary cam having to do with the tapered high splice above the heel. A stop 14a on the lever 14 abuts a hub on the cam shaft a I to limit the back stroke of the pawl 12.

The operation, of the pattern chains by the mechanism just described causes high links or projections thereon to operate in proper order the levers 8. These levers are connected by wires 17 with bell crank levers l8 pivotally mounted on a frame bracket 19, Figs. 3 and 4. These ball crank levers operate the selector slides C C 0" to bring the color yarns into operation for making the stripes, by positioning their projections in proper position for operating the selector pawls on the driver. The wires 17 at a point between the supplemental pattern .mwhanism 1,986,578 16 and in-dotted lines, Fig. 1, which engages and the bell crank levers pass partly around wheels 20 mounted in a rocker member or frame 21 pivoted to the main frame at 22. The position of this frame, up or down, is determined by a control cam 23, Figs. 2, 3, 8, 9 and '12, on the yarn. changer shaft b, and forming one of the cams of the left hand group, Fig. 2. This cam has a high part extending for about one half of its periphery and when this is brought into action by the step by step revolution of the yarn changer shaft b it will operate upon the upper end of a lever 24 which is pivoted on the same bracket 19 with the bell crank levers l8, and coaxially therewith at 18a, Fig. 10. This lever operates a link 25 pivoted thereto at its upper end and to the frame 21 at its lower end.

This control cam 23 also determines the time at which the reciprocating pawl 12 will be effective in operating the supplemental pattern mechanism A for performing the striping operations. For this purpose the lever 24 when operated by the control cam 23 will operate a rod 27 passing through a tube 28 suitably supported. The rod 27 operates the upper arm 29 of a. shield lever 30 pivoted on the axis of the supplemental pattern drum 10. The lower end of this shield lever controls the engagement of the pawl 12 with its ratchet. When the rod 27 is operated by the lever 24 it will turn the shield so that the teeth of the ratchet 11 of the supplemental pattern mechanism will be exposed so as to be engaged by the pawl 12, which then will turn the pattern mechanisms and the levers 8 will be operated according to prescribed plan and disposition of the high links on the chains and the wires 17 will be operated in proper'order to operate the bell crank'levers 18 which will in turn, shift the slides C C C to present their projections which are shown at C#l, C#5, C#7 to determine the selections of the proper pawls on the driver so as to pick up the prescribed dogs 34 for the operation of the proper yarn carrier bands.

The operation of the shield 30 by the rod 27 takes place against the tension of a spring 32. This spring through the rod 27 tends to hold the lever 24 in its raised position with its upper end against the periphery of the control cam 23, and this lever when raised raises the, frame 21 to render the wires 17 slack and inoperative. This of course takes place when the low part of the control cam 23 is opposite the upper end of the lever 24. When, however, the high part of the control cam 23 comes into action upon the lever 24 two actions result. One of these is the operation of the shield 30 to bring the supplemental pattern mechanism into action by the operation of the pawl 12. The other result is the downward movement of the pivoted frame 21 by the link 25 so that the wires 17-will be rendered taut and the operation of the levers 8 of the supplemental pattern mechanism will be transmitted to the bell crank levers 18 for the selection and setting of the appropriate slides, 0 C C", of the group C for bringing into actionthe proper color yarns. So long as the high part of the control cam 23 presents its high part to the lever 24 the horizontal striping will go on according to the pattern prescribed because the pattern levers 8 will be operated in accordance with the disposition of the high links or projections on the several pattern chains. After the color yarns have been fed to the needles for the desired number of courses, the prescribed changes taking place by the pattern chains acting upon the levers 8, the cam 23 is rotated to remove its high part from the lever 24 whereupon said lever will be raised by the spring 32. The supplemental pattern mechanism at the same time will be rendered inactive by shifting the shield 30 to prevent the pawl 12 from operating the said mechanism and the wires 17 will be slackened by the lifting of the frame 21.

The yarn changer shaft b makes one complete revolution, step by step, for each stocking.

It will be seen from the above that the supplemental pattern mechanism operates in connection with the same group of selector slides which are operated from the main pattern mechanism. One or more of the slides may be operated only by the main pattern mechanism, another slide or slides may be operated only by the supplemental pattern mechanism and another slide or slides may be operated at times by the main pattern mechanism and also at times by the supplemental pattern mechanism. The changes possible to be made are therefore increased by the employment of the supplemental pattern mechanism, and in respect to a given slide, say C as the changes are the result of the control exerted both by the main pattern mechanism and the supplemental pattern mechanism, the changes in respect to this particular slide are increased beyond those changes effected by the main pattern mechanism alone.

In Fig. 4 is indicated at C#1 to C#'? the projections on the several slides of the group of seven at the left of the machine for selectively operating the pawls of the driver for picking up the corresponding yarn carriers, #1 to #7, excepting in this particular layout carriers #2 and #6 are idle.

While three color changes are referred to herein it will be understood that the number and plan of selection of the slides may be varied, and while only one selector slide, viz C is referred to as capable of being operated both by the main pattern mechanism and the supplemental pattern mechanism, the invention is not limited in this respect as the plan of operation of the slides may be changed. The principle of increasing the permutations by the use of supplemental pattern mechanism controlling the same means which is controlled by the main pattern mechanism, is illustrated by slide C by way of an example of what may be done with other slides. Further, while all the colors are changed by selection from the group of slides at the left of the machine, the invention is not limited in this regard.

Reverting to the mechanism for rendering the wires 17 slack when the color changes have been completed and the supplemental pattern mechanism is to be rendered ineffective, it will be understood that the slackening of the wires will render the supplemental pattern mechanism ineffective despite the fact that it is intended that always one of the pattern levers 8 will be on a high link of the supplemental pattern chain unit. By this arrangement the chains 0", C C will never present their-respective low links to their levers 8 at the same time. Therefore the chains can continue to perform a number of cycles during the formation of the desired pattern and maintain the prescribed slides C in action. This will enable short chains to be employed which will repeat their cycles so long as the wires 17 are taut. When the prescribed color pattern has been completed it is then necessary to render all the levers 8 ineffective'in further controlling the selector slides C and this is done by slackening the wires 17 and the taking over of the control .of the slides by the cams on the shaft b. The slackening of the wires must take place at this time despite the fact that the pawl 12 is out of operation and the pattern chains are at rest, otherwise the con trol could not be transferred to the cams on the shaft 1) owing to one of the levers 8 still being on one of the high links. This cam set has only, say, 16 different positions in one revolution, not enough to control all the changes of yarns throughout the pattern, hence the auxiliary pattern mechanism at times exerts its control and this is accomplished as stated above with short chains repeating their cycles during the formation of the pattern.

The supplemental pattern mechanism comes into action at a time when the selector mechanism involving the slides may be said to be in open position, that is, with said slides in inoperative position in relation to the particular yarn carrier bands each is to control.

The stop mechanism for the yarn carrier bands maybe the same as shown in the application above mentioned and the stops are indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2 at R and L, Rs and Ls, Ra and S and other parts not shown herein are like those shown if said application.

Referring to Fig. 12, this shows the series of cams of the group C at the left of the machine. They are marked in the order in which they are located on the yarn changer shaft beginning with Cal at that side of the group nearest the center of the machine to Ca? at the outer side of the group. A collar 33 'is used as a lateral bearing member for the group of cams.

The control cam 23 is adapted to be fixed on shaft b by a key. This cam has a lateral projection pin 35 and all the other members of this group are provided with aligning holes 36 to receive said pin whereby the relation of the cams to each other circumferentially of the shaft is determined.

The cams shown in Fig. 13 constituting the group for the right hand end of the machine are likewise shown in the circumferential relation they bear to each other. In the group 'there are two collars 3'7 and 38, the former being adapted to be keyed to the shaft b and having an aligning pin 39 to receive the other members of this group which are provided, each with an opening, for this purpose. 7

. From the above it will be seen that the throwing out of and into operation of the supplemental pattern mechanism is controlled by the pivotally mounted frame 21 which, when in low position, tightens the wires 1'7 so that the operation of the levers 8 will be transmitted to the selector, and when in high position will slacken said wires to release the selectors from control by the auxiliary pattern mechanism. Either the main pattern mechanism, through the connections described, involving amongst other elements the cams on the yarn changer shaft, or the supplemental pattern mechanism, will be exerting control upon the selector mechanisms, so that at all times some one of the yarn feeds will be in action. The design may be varied as to color and as to width of the bands making up the striped effect.

I claim:

1. In apparatus for changing yarn in a full fashioned knitting machine, a group of selector members, a shaft having cam means thereon for operating certain of said members, main pattern mechanism for giving a step by step movement to the cam shaft, supplemental pattern mechanism for operating certain of said selector members, connections between said supplemental pattern mechanism and said selector members which 4 connections are slackened to be rendered inoperative and tightened to be rendered operative, a cam on the cam shaft, and means for tightening or slackening said connections operated from said cam, substantially as described.

2. In apparatus for changing yarn in a .full fashioned knitting machine, a group of selector members, a shaft having cam means thereon for operating certain of said members, main pattern mechanism for giving a step by step movement to the cam shaft, supplemental pattern mechanism for operating certain of said selector members, pawl and ratchet mechanism for operating the supplemental pattern mechanism, a shield for controlling the operation of the ratchet by the pawl, means for operating the shield for determining the times of operationof the supplemental pattern mechanism, connections from the supplemental pattern mechanism to the said selector' members for operating them, said connections when slackened being inoperative and means for automatically tightening or slackening the said connections, substantially as described.

3. In apparatus for changing yarn in a full fashioned knitting machine, a group of selector members for changing the yarn, a main pattern mechanism, selector operating means controlled by the main pattern mechanism and comprising a cam shaft with cams thereon, a supplemental pattern means for controlling yarn selection comprising a plurality of comparatively short series of high and low parts with carrier means therefor, levers operated by said high and low parts, and arranged so that some one of the levers shall always be on a high part so that said carrier means with their high and low parts may perform a number of cycles for making a pattern, connections from said levers to selector members adapted to be slackened or tightened, means for operating the said carriers and means operated by a cam on the cam shaft for slackening or tightening said connections, means for controlling the carrier operating means, the control of the selector members being assumed by the cam means when the connections are slackened, sub- '5. Y am changer mechanism for full fashioned knitting machines and in combination selector Wil means for the yarn carriers, cam means for operating the selector means, main pattern mechanism for controlling the cam means, a supplemental pattern mechanism comprising carrier means having high and low parts, members operated by said high parts, connections between said members and the selector means for operating the latter, at least one or another of the said members remaining on a high part so that the supplemental pattern carrier may perform a number of cycles in forming a pattern, means for rendering the connections leading from said members to the selector means inoperative, and means for throwing the supplemental pattern mechanism out of operation, substantially as described.

6. In combination in yarn changer mechanism for full fashioned knitting machines, selector means for the yarn carriers, main pattern mechanism for controlling the selector means, a supplemental pattern mechanism comprising means having comparatively short series of high and low parts with carrier means therefor, and members operated by said high and low parts, connections between the said members and the selector means for operating the latter, at least one or another of said members being on a high part at all times, i

so that the supplemental pattern mechanism can perform a number of cycles in forming the pattern, and means controlled by the main pattern mechanism for throwing said connections out of operation, substantially as described.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5 in which the said connections are rendered inoperative by slackening them and are rendered operative by tightening them.

8. In combination in yam changer mechanism for full fashioned knitting machines, selector means for the yarn carriers, main pattern inechanism for controlling the selector means, a supplemental pattern mechanism comprising means having comparatively short series of high and low parts with carrier means therefor, and members operated by said high and low parts, connections between. the said members and the selector means for operating the latter, at least one or another of said members remaining on a high part, so that the supplemental pattern mechanism can perform a number of cycles in forming the pattern, and means for automatically throwing said connections out of operation, said automatic means including a rocker member, a cam and a connection between said cam and rocker member.

KENNETH HOWIE. 

